On May 18, 2020, Governor Baker issued COVID-19 Order No. 33: Order Implementing a Phased
Reopening of Workplaces and Imposing Workplace Safety Measures to Address COVID-19,
implementing a phased reopening of workplaces and imposing workplace safety measures to address
COVID-19. That same day, he issued COVID-19 Order No. 34: Order Expanding Access to and Use of
State Beaches and Addressing Other Outdoor Recreational Activities, which directed the Secretary of the
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs “to issue guidance for the implementation of
generally applicable COVID-19 workplace standards by operators of and participants in outdoor
recreational activities.”

This document provides guidance for operators of for hire fishing and charter vessels on how to
implement those general workplace safety standards and other public health guidance (“COVID-19
measures”) in the context of their outdoor recreational operations in the first phase (“Phase 1”) of the
Commonwealth’s reopening. Operators who fail to implement applicable COVID-19 measures may be
sanctioned in accordance with COVID-19 Order No. 33. Operators are further reminded that in addition
to implementing COVID-19 measures in Phase 1, they must still comply with all federal, state and local
laws.

The public health data and guidance on which this document is based can and does change frequently.
The most recent version of this document can be found on the Commonwealth’s website,
http://www.mass.gov/

Any questions regarding this guidance can be sent to outdoor.recreation@mass.gov

LIMITATIONS ON OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND FACILITIES

COVID-19 Order No. 33 permits certain outdoor recreational activities and facilities to resume operations
on May 25, 2020, provided that those operations meet safety standards and comply with the terms and
conditions of the Order.

With respect to for hire and charter fishing, the Order provides that no more than ten people, including
any captain and crew, are aboard a single vessel at any one time. This means that vessels with more than
10 passengers and crew are not allowed to operate at this time.

In addition to complying with the aforementioned limitations, operators must implement the following
safety measures detailed below:

IMPLEMENTING SAFETY MEASURES FOR YOUR OPERATION

COVID-19 Order No. 33 organizes safety measures into four distinct categories, social distancing,
hygiene protocols, staffing and operations, and cleaning and disinfecting. For hire and charter fishing
operations must ensure that the following COVID-19 Measures to protect consumers and employees.

Social Distancing

All persons, including employees, customers, and vendors should remain at least six
feet apart to the greatest extent possible, both inside and outside workplaces
Establish protocols to ensure that employees can practice adequate social distancing
Provide signage for safe social distancing
Require face coverings or masks for all employees and customers

Hygiene Protocols

Provide hand-washing capabilities throughout the workplace
Ensure frequent hand washing by employees and adequate supplies to do so
Provide regular sanitization of high touch areas, such as workstations, equipment,
screens, doorknobs, restrooms throughout work site

Staffing and
Operations

Provide training for employees regarding the social distancing and hygiene protocols
Employees who are displaying COVID-19-like symptoms do not report to work
Establish a plan for employees getting ill from COVID-19 at work, and a return-to-
work plan

Cleaning and
Disinfecting

Establish and maintain cleaning protocols specific to the business
When an active employee is diagnosed with COVID-19, cleaning and disinfecting
must be performed
Disinfection of all common surfaces must take place at intervals appropriate to said
workplace

The application of these measures to for hire and charter fishing is detailed below.

 For hire vessels shall remain a safe distance apart. Tying boats or other crafts together is
prohibited. All local rules, regulations, laws, and Coast Guard requirements still apply.

 Passengers and crew members must abide by social distancing protocols of at least six feet
between individuals. Passengers and crewmembers from the same household are not required
to social distance from each other.

 Stagger lunch and break times, regulating maximum number of people in one place and
ensuring at least 6 feet of physical distancing during any meeting.

 Face coverings are required for all workers, except where doing so may introduce a safety
hazard to workers or where an individual is unable to wear a face covering due to a medical
condition or disability.

 Minimize the use of confined spaces (e.g., elevators, control rooms, vehicles) by more than
one individual at a time; all employees in such spaces at the same time are required to wear
face coverings.
II. Hygiene Protocols

 Ensure access to handwashing facilities on site, including soap and running water, and allow
sufficient break time for employees to wash hands to frequently; alcohol-based hand
sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol may be used as an alternative

 Crewmembers must provide to customers handwashing capability or sanitizer on the vessel.

 Frequent handwashing by employees, and an adequate supply of soap, disinfectant, hand
sanitizer, and paper towels must be available.